Bruce A. Cray

Visitation for Bruce A. Cray, 88, of Deer Park, formerly of Elmwood Park, will be from 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 415 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich, IL. Prayers will be said at 10:00 AM on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the funeral home and proceed to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 33 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich for the Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. The Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.

Bruce was born in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, where he went to school, met and married Geraldine (Gerry), nee Hamelin, the love of his life, and worked for more than 45 years at Matthews Roofing Company, as a tuck pointer, roofer, salesman, sales manager until retiring as vice president of sales.

Bruce and Gerry were married in 1956 at Maternity B.V.M. Church. During their 54 years of marriage, they were loving role models to their children and extended family and made countless friends, many of whom they enjoyed traveling with to favorite places such as Florida, Las Vegas, and Hawaii.

Bruce and Gerry were devoted Poppa and Mimi to their grandchildren, ever present in their lives, making sure each holiday was special, attending every sporting event, music or dance performance, and going on family vacations and trips to zoos, museums and theme parks. Bruce was a lifelong Cubs fan and golf enthusiast – even scoring a hole in one at Nordic Hills Country Club!

Bruce was everything to everybody: golfing partner, chauffeur, sports spectator, carpenter, painter, roofer, wall paperer, co-signer, gardener, meal delivery service, kitchen cleaner, Grandpa stand-in, and holiday decorator. Bruce lovingly showed up, always well-dressed and good-humored.

We realized these last few days that there must have been more than one set of Bruce and Ger. How did one couple show up for everything and make each one of us feel special?

Bruce passed away on October 31st surrounded by his family. He was the loving husband and best friend of the late Gerry; beloved father of Kevin, Karen (Mike) Tursi, Susan (Chet) Zelasko; adored Poppa of Michael (Elana), Nick, Vince Tursi, Kara and Alex Zelasko; and great-grandfather of Malakai and Ari Tursi. He was a special uncle (UB) to John (Lori) Cray, Dena Crissie (Karl Schmidt), Breanna, Marina, Phillip Reader, Lauren (Andy) Crouch, Beth (Randy) Fransen, and Tony Suforna. Bruce is survived by sisters-in-law Kelly (Frank) Crissie, Michelle (the late Mark) Reader, Sandra (the late Tom) Hamelin. Bruce was preceded in death by his mother Catherine Matthews, brother Dick (the late Maryanne) Cray, mother-in-law Rita (the late Fran) Reader, father-in-law Arthur Hamelin, and sister-in-law Carol (the late Hank) Ahrens.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated for the American Cancer Society.